{
  "id": 12779991,
  "title": "Samsung flags $80 billion profit on AI boom, highest quarterly for any tech company",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/samsung-flags-80-billion-profit-on-ai-boom-highest-quarterly-for-any-12779991",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-08T03:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Joy Business",
    "slug": "joy-business",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/samsung-flags-80-billion-profit-on-ai-boom-highest-quarterly-for-any-tech-company/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Samsung Electronics has projected its quarterly profit to exceed 100 trillion won, marking its first time as a technology company to achieve such a record. The company anticipates a nearly nine-fold increase in third-quarter earnings due to surging demand for AI chips, which has led to strong memory sales. As the world's largest memory chipmaker, Samsung estimates an operating profit of 107.4 trillion won ($80.17 billion) for the July-September period, slightly exceeding the LSEG SmartEstimate of 106.1 trillion won. This forecast represents Samsung's fourth consecutive quarter of record operating profits, highlighting the growing global memory chip shortage exacerbated by AI infrastructure investments outpacing supply growth and driving up chip prices. Analysts warn that this imbalance in chip prices could persist until 2028, although competition from China and a potential slowdown in AI spending may pose risks to long-term earnings outlook. Despite these projections, Samsung's shares have remained relatively stable, declining 0.2% in early trade, compared to a 0.5% drop in the broader KOSPI index. The stock price has plummeted over 25% since reaching a record high in June, amid concerns about the sustainability of the AI boom. Market analysts have also revised their forecasts downward, citing the South Korean currency's sharp appreciation, which reduces the value of overseas dollar-denominated sales when converted into local currency. Experts believe the market's focus is now on whether the remarkable earnings growth observed over the past year can be sustained. Samsung anticipates a 20% sequential growth in the fourth quarter, down from the 8.2% increase observed in the third quarter, as the pace of chip price growth slows. Industry research firm TrendForce expects conventional DRAM contract prices to rise by 10% to 15% in the fourth quarter, significantly lower than the approximately 60% surge recorded in the second quarter. This moderation in memory prices is closely monitored by investors, following a more than year-long rally that boosted profit margins to record highs for Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. Samsung is scheduled to announce detailed results, including a breakdown of earnings by business division, on October 29. While memory chips are projected to contribute the majority of the earnings improvement, the memory chip boom poses challenges for Samsung's other divisions, particularly its smartphone and consumer electronics segments, which face mounting pressure from higher component costs. Samsung's mobile business reported a larger-than-expected loss exceeding $1 billion in the third quarter, according to analysts. Furthermore, Samsung's contract chipmaking, or foundry business, is expected to remain loss-making due to burdensome fixed costs and low utilization rates, although analysts anticipate a gradual improvement in utilization rates as demand for advanced manufacturing processes increases. Samsung aims to narrow the gap with industry leader TSMC in advanced contract chip manufacturing. Investors are also keenly watching Samsung's shareholder return policy during the upcoming earnings call.",
  "summary": "Samsung Electronics on Thursday projected its quarterly profit would top 100 trillion won, a world first for a technology company, estimating a nearly nine-fold jump in third-quarter earnings as booming demand for AI chips drove strong memory sales.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nikkei Asia",
        "title": "Samsung Q3 profit jumps nearly 9 times to $80bn in AI chip boom",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/samsung-q3-profit-jumps-nearly-9-times-to-80bn-in-ai-chip-boom",
        "published": "2026-10-07T22:38:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC World",
        "title": "Samsung forecasts record third-quarter profit of $80 billion as AI boom fuels chip demand",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/samsung-forecasts-record-third-quarter-profit-of-80-billion-as-ai",
        "published": "2026-10-08T00:51:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Samsung flags $80 billion profit on AI boom, highest quarterly for any tech company",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/samsung-flags-80-billion-profit-on-ai-boom-highest-quarterly-for-any-12783458",
        "published": "2026-10-08T03:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Samsung flags $80 billion profit on AI boom, highest quarterly for any tech company",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/samsung-flags-80-billion-profit-on-ai-boom-highest-quarterly-for-any",
        "published": "2026-10-08T03:17:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "Samsung flags $95.7 billion profit on AI boom, highest quarterly for any tech company",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/samsung-flags-95-7-billion-profit-on-ai-boom-highest-quarterly-for",
        "published": "2026-10-08T03:25:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}